Reading-rest



W. H. BERRY. Reading-Rest.

No. 223,271. Patnted Jan. 6, 1 8 80.

'witaesses, iiaveator Wham.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BERRY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

READING-REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,271, dated January 6, 1880.

Appliration filed May 27, 1879 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BERRY, of Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reading-Rests; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully, clearly, and exactly described as follows, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, in which the device is illustrated in perspective view.

My invention is designed to furnish a device the want of which has long been felt, especially by persons whose business necessitates much travel by railway. With such persons reading is practically the only pastime while travelin g, but the constant strain necessary to keep the eyes fixed upon the lines precludes the possibility of reading with pleasure for any great length of time. The slightest jolt of the elbow is magnified by the time it reaches the hand holding the book or paper to such an eX- tent as to keep the reading-matter dancing before the eyes in a manner that necessitates a constant tension and strain of the muscles of the arms, neck, and eyes, in order to read at all.

My invention furnishes a hand-rest for supporting the hands with reference to the upper part of the body and permitting gravity to assist the muscles in maintaining the hands in position. With the device about to be described the user can read about twice as fast as without it while traveling by rail, and with its aid it is possible to write legibly despite the jolting of the car-something which has heretofore been almost out of the question.

In the accompanying drawing, a is a strap which crosses the back of the wearer, and is attached at either end to straps A A, having in one end a ring, I), and in the other a snaphook, b, for fastening them under the arms. Short straps B are attached to the rings b, and are provided at their lower ends with rings 0 for the attachment of the hand-rests G C. These latter consist, preferably, of me tallic pieces, curved as shown, opposite the letters 0, and again at d. They are provided with snap-hooksc for attachment to therin 0.

Instead of'the metallic hand-rests G, a simple loop of cloth or a glove or other equivalent dcvice may be used.

The device is constructed in the parts A a B, by preference, of suspemler-webbing or other strong fabric; or leather may be used. The device is put on either over the coat or vest or under the latter, in which case the straps B are led through the armholes.

In use the hand is laid in the hook d, the thumb passing behind the hand-rest, and being free to grasp the book or paper with the fingers and assist in turning the leaves. In a word, the functions of the hands are entirely unimpaired, and eitheroperates or ma yoperate with the rest independent of the other.

When not in use the hand-rests C may be allowed to drop by the side of the user, where they will not be seen if under his coat, and will be out of the way; or they may be removed, if desired.

The device, in a word, is sim1')le,inexpensive to construct, and thoroughly efficient and satisfactory in operation.

What I claim is 1. The reading-rest herein described, consisting of the back-strap a and shoulderstraps A, having a suitable hand-support attached to the latter, as set forth.

2. In combination with back-strap a, shoulder-straps A, and connections B, the hand-rest 0, having curved end (1, as set forth.

WM. H. BERRY.

Witnesses R. D. WILLIAMS, J. O. GITTINGER. 

